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Monday, June 24, 2013

Marché Gastronomique

I was sitting on the #42 bus Saturday coming from the pool when we passed a bunch of red and white striped awning food stands. Marche gastronomique Popup Alert! Bells went off and I jumped off the bus.

I've yet to figure out when and where these regional marches will be. They aren't announced in the free Metro papers. If you know do please tell dear PBers. This gent from the Haute Alpes was at Pasteur last winter. Chef Marthe whispered to me,

"This guy could sell milk to a cow".

He did sell us great hunks of pricey but very delicious Beaufort plus elegant dried beef from his region. This time I kept my purse well hidden.

Specialties from so many regions and it's a chance to get fresh artisanal products. Plus the venders are awfully charming to boot.

Tasting/goute is expected/de rigueur. Their feelings are hurt if you don't taste and voice an opinion. No wonder French kids love cheese early and everything else.

There is always at least one stand with Corsican products if not more.

I bought picholine olives from the Provencal seller. I would have bought these sun-dried tomatoes but I still have the ones I bought in Aix a week or so ago.

Organic caramels from Baramel in Brittany, a co-op.

Wine is always flowing at the marche gastronomique. Alsace had a several stands.

Since no one was demonstrating any kitchen gadgets I walked away with a big kilo bucket of raw sauerkraut. Later on I had no trouble finding caraways seeds at Franprix.

But the miel/honey de Sapin/pine is still eluding me. And I just noticed the bucket says it must be eaten by 19-07-13. That's a lot of sauerkraut for just one person to wolf down...uh oh

I went back Sunday for another look but they were closing down. Just the Basques were still standing. I stood there eyeballing the saucisson. The seller (wearing a black beret) took one look at me, grabbed the six sampling sausages, tossed them in a bag and handed them to me. I said,

"How much?

"It's a cadeaux!" he said.

That's what happens at a French popup marche gastronomique.I didn't notice any dogs but today this saucisson pup reminded me of my good fortune.

I love how you can just jump off a bus and do what you like, Carol. Great fun. These markets are dangerous. I still have 4 pots of unused snail spread that seemed so alluring at the time. I'm still working on the Corsican accent for their stalls, though.